Detector bar or detector formed from a number of detector bars, and computed-tomography unit with such a detector

Abstract

A detector bar, a detector formed from a number of detector bars, and a computed-tomography unit including such a detector is disclosed, each detector bar being formed from a number of individual modules. A detector bar has a module carrier for mechanically retaining the individual modules, and a printed circuit board, structurally separate from the module carrier, for making electric contact with the individual modules. The individual modules can thus be exchanged without disturbance, and simple aligning of the individual modules can thus be carried out while electric contact is simultaneously made.

1. A detector bar, comprising:
 a number of individual modules, each comprising an array of detector elements; 
 a module carrier for mechanically retaining the individual modules, the module carrier being positioned on a side of the individual modules opposite to a side on which x-ray radiation impinges; and 
 a printed circuit board, embodied separately from said module carrier, for making electric contact with the individual modules and an external electric apparatus, the printed circuit board being arranged on a side of the module carrier opposing the side on which the individual modules are positioned, wherein
 said electric contact between the printed circuit board and each individual module is made via flexible electric conductor tracks, the flexible electric conductor tracks being guided through cut-outs provided in the module carrier, 
 said electric contact between the printed circuit board and the external electric apparatus is made via a separate electrical connection. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein electric contact is made in order to supply power to the individual modules and to transmit signals and control commands. 
   
   
     3. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein mechanical retention between the module carrier and the respective individual module is of releasable design. 
   
   
     4. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a screwed connection is provided for the mechanical retention between the module carrier and the respective individual module. 
   
   
     5. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a clamping apparatus is provided for the mechanical retention between the module carrier and the respective individual module. 
   
   
     6. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the module carrier includes fastening means for mechanically fastening the detector bar on a detector frame. 
   
   
     7. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the module carder includes an installing device. 
   
   
     8. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the installing device is a marking line. 
   
   
     9. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the individual modules are arranged in one dimension on the module carrier. 
   
   
     10. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the individual modules are arranged in two dimensions on the module carrier. 
   
   
     11. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each individual module has electronic components for at least one of signal amplification, voltage conditioning and decoupling interference signals. 
   
   
     12. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the detector elements is a directly converting semiconductor. 
   
   
     13. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the detector elements includes a scintillator and a photodiode. 
   
   
     14. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each individual module includes a collimator. 
   
   
     15. The detector bar of  claim 1 , wherein the individual modules, the module carrier and the printed circuit board are arranged vertically in a path of x-ray radiation. 
   
   
     16. The detector bar of  claim 1 , wherein the individual modules, the module carrier and the printed circuit board are stacked vertically. 
   
   
     17. The detector bar of  claim 1 , wherein each individual module electrically contacts the printed circuit board via a separate flexible electric conductor track guided through a separate cut-out provided in the module carrier. 
   
   
     18. The detector bar of  claim 1 , wherein the detector bar is connectable to a detector frame positioned at a side of the detector bar opposite to the side at which the individual modules are arranged. 
   
   
     19. A detector comprising:
 a plurality of detector bars, each detector bar including,
 a number of individual modules, each comprising an array of detector elements; 
 a module carrier for mechanically retaining the individual modules, the module carrier being positioned on a side of the individual modules opposite to a side on which x-ray radiation impinges; and 
 a printed circuit board, embodied separately from said module carrier, for making electric contact with the individual modules and an external electric apparatus, the printed circuit board being arranged on a side of the module carrier opposing the side on which the individual modules are positioned, wherein
 said electric contact between the printed circuit board and each individual module is made via flexible electric conductor tracks, the flexible electric conductor tracks being guided through cut-outs provided in the module carrier, and 
 said electric contact between the printed circuit board and the external electric apparatus is made via a separate electrical connection. 
 
 
 
   
   
     20. A computed-tomography unit comprising a detector as claimed in  claim 19 . 
   
   
     21. A computed-tomography unit comprising an x-ray emitting device and a detector as claimed in  claim 19 . 
   
   
     22. The detector of  claim 19 , wherein each individual module electrically contacts the printed circuit board via a separate flexible electric conductor track guided through a separate cut-out provided in the module carrier. 
   
   
     23. The detector of  claim 19 , wherein each detector bar is connectable to a detector frame positioned at a side of each detector bar opposite to the side at which the individual modules are arranged. 
   
   
     24. A detector bar for use in a computed-tomography unit, the detector bar comprising:
 a module carrier having a plurality individual detector modules mechanically fixed thereto, the plurality of detector modules being arranged on a first side of the module carrier; and 
 a printed circuit board, separate from said module carrier, for making electric contact with the individual modules and an external electric apparatus, the printed circuit board being arranged on a second side of the module carrier, the second side opposing the first side, wherein
 said electric contact between the printed circuit board and each individual module is made via flexible electric conductor tracks, the flexible electric conductor tracks being guided through cut-outs provided in the module carrier, and 
 said electric contact between the printed circuit board and the external electric apparatus is made via a separate electrical connection. 
 
 
   
   
     25. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein electric contact is made in order to supply power to the individual modules and to transmit signals and control commands. 
   
   
     26. The detector bar as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein mechanical retention between the module carrier and the respective individual module is of releasable design. 
   
   
     27. A computed-tomography unit comprising a detector as claimed in  claim 24 . 
   
   
     28. A detector comprising at least one detector bar, retained on a detector frame, as claimed in  claim 24 . 
   
   
     29. A computed-tomography unit comprising an x-ray emitting device and a detector as claimed in  claim 28 . 
   
   
     30. The detector bar of  claim 24 , wherein each individual module electrically contacts the printed circuit board via a separate flexible electric conductor track guided through a separate cut-out provided in the module carrier. 
   
   
     31. The detector bar of  claim 24 , wherein the detector bar is connectable to a detector frame positioned at a side of the detector bar opposite to the side at which the individual modules are arranged.